What does the 2016 NFL season have in store? The WTOP Sports staff takes its best shot at predicting anything and everything to come.
The NFL season kicks off Thursday night. Will Washington repeat as NFC East champs? Who is overrated and underrated? What can we expect from Tony Romo, RG3, Josh Norman and more? Our crack team takes its best shot at answering all that and more.
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File
What will be the Redskins’ final record, where will they finish in the division, and will they make the playoffs?J. Brooks, sports anchor: 8-8 | 2nd in NFC East | No playoffs
Chris Cichon, sports anchor: 10-6 | 1st in NFC East | Win division
Noah Frank, digital sports editor: 7-9 | 2nd in NFC East | No playoffs
Dave Preston, sports anchor: 10-6 | 1st in NFC East | Win division
Ben Raby, sports anchor: 10-6 | 1st in NFC East | Win division
George Wallace, sports director: 9-7 | T-1st in NFC East | Win division on tiebreaker
Rob Woodfork, sports anchor: 11-5 | 1st in NFC East | Win division
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
What non-playoff team from last season will make it this year?J. Brooks: Oakland Raiders
Chris Cichon: Jacksonville Jaguars
Noah Frank: Oakland Raiders
Dave Preston: Baltimore Ravens
Ben Raby: New York Giants
George Wallace: Oakland Raiders
Rob Woodfork: Baltimore Ravens
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
AP Photo/Tony Avelar
What playoff team from last year won’t make it this year?J. Brooks: Cincinnati Bengals
Chris Cichon: Houston Texans
Noah Frank: Minnesota Vikings
Dave Preston: Denver Broncos
Ben Raby: Houston Texans
George Wallace: Minnesota Vikings
Rob Woodfork: Kansas City Chiefs
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
Which team will have the biggest increase in wins?J. Brooks: Baltimore Ravens
Chris Cichon: Baltimore Ravens
Noah Frank: Baltimore Ravens
Dave Preston: Baltimore Ravens
Ben Raby: Tennessee Titans
George Wallace: Jacksonville Jaguars
Rob Woodfork: Jacksonville Jaguars
(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
AP Photo/Nick Wass, File
Which team will have the biggest decrease in wins?J. Brooks: Denver Broncos
Chris Cichon: Cincinnati Bengals
Noah Frank: Carolina Panthers
Dave Preston: Denver Broncos
Ben Raby: Denver Broncos
George Wallace: Denver Broncos
Rob Woodfork: Carolina Panthers
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
In what week will Tony Romo return as a starter, if at all?J. Brooks: Week 8
Chris Cichon: Week 9
Noah Frank: Not at all
Dave Preston: Week 8
Ben Raby: Week 8
George Wallace: Not at all
Rob Woodfork: Week 8
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Will RG3 start for the Browns in Washington in Week 4?J. Brooks: No
Chris Cichon: Yes
Noah Frank: Yes
Dave Preston: Yes
Ben Raby: Yes
George Wallace: No
Rob Woodfork: Yes
(AP Photo/Jeffery Phelps, File)
AP Photo/Jeffery Phelps, File
How many personal fouls will Josh Norman/Odell Beckham Jr. combine for in their two matchups this season?J. Brooks: 4
Chris Cichon: 1
Noah Frank: 3
Dave Preston: 3
Ben Raby: 3
George Wallace: 5
Rob Woodfork: 4
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File
Who will win each conference championship and the Super Bowl?J. Brooks: Pittsburgh Steelers over Arizona Cardinals
Chris Cichon: New England Patriots over Arizona Cardinals
Noah Frank: Arizona Cardinals over New England Patriots
Dave Preston: New England Patriots over Arizona Cardinals
Ben Raby: Green Bay Packers over Pittsburgh Steelers
George Wallace: Pittsburgh Steelers over Green Bay Packers
Rob Woodfork: Arizona Cardinals over New England Patriots
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
AP Photo/Winslow Townson
What is your one bold prediction for the season?J. Brooks: The National Anthem will be modified, or addressed by the league. I would not be surprised to see the subject brought up at the Owners meeting after the next offseason.
Chris Cichon: The Jacksonville Jaguars will win their division for the first time since 1999. Andrew Luck will get beat up once again all year because of his atrocious offensive line and people will start to wonder if Blake Bortles is the best QB in that division.
Noah Frank: With a dynamic receiving corps and a rejuvenated RG3, the Cleveland Browns will be the most entertaining team to watch in the NFL (their poor record notwithstanding).
Dave Preston: NBC and the NFL will get into a major tiff over whether or not Mike Tirico is worthy of their Thursday night games… with Al Michaels and Bob Costas taking turns calling them out.
Ben Raby: Ray Rice or Mike Vick will at the very least be invited to work out with NFL team with chance of signing.
George Wallace: In a bizarro NFL season, Jacksonville and Oakland will make the playoffs!
Rob Woodfork: I have the Redskins in the NFC title game…what’s bolder than that??
(AP Photo/John Raoux)